A little worried!

OK gang. I'm six weeks out from surgery. Eatting soft foods with surgeons permission. Eatting good stuff and mostly good at correct proportions. However, and here is the concern, I never feel full or even satisfied. While I have not tested this further, I know at times I have eatten more then my four tablespoons of food, and I feel nothing. Today when I was driving and drinking my water, I accidently took a long gulp. I realized what I did and prepared for something to happen. Nothing. I once read where a WLS patient was worried that his surgeon had performed a placebo surgery on him since he did not have any consequences when he overate. While I know my surgery was real, I don't understand what is happening. I was planning on the "dumping" to help keep me in line. Now I am afraid that when my hunger comes back, I am not going to have that reenforcement of pain and agony to keep me from sweets, heavy fat and overeatting.  

What's up G, What you're experiencing is pretty close to what my experience was at 6 weeks out. Although, I couldn't gulp liqiuds at that time without feeling like I was going to choke. Now though, I can drink just like before surgery with no problems at all. As far as food goes, in the beginning I had no appetite and didn't feel fullness either. That's why it's so important to measure your meals. As time goes by you learn to listen to your body for that full sign. It feels different than it did before surgery, but it is there. It's still easy for me to overeat, so I watch what I put on my plate, and stop at the first sign of fullness.  The slower I eat, the easier it is for me to stop eating at the right time. Don't be afraid to throw food away. That was hard for me at the beginning, too. I was the president of the clean plate club before surgery. I think of lot of us were though. I hope this info is helpful to you. Ronnie 

Hey G -  I know that I too had the same issue.  It came down to measuring the portions and eating every 2 to 2 1/2 hours.  Even if you dont feal full, eat every  2 to 2 1/2 hours.  Also, u need to make sure you eat what u measure.  I also has an issue of not fealing full. I even posted that I thought my new pouch split!!  I thought it had as I was not fealing full. The first time I dumped or foamed was when I ate a boiled egg from a conveinence store and did not chew it all the way (maybe you read the post).  I spit it up as fast as I swallowed it.  I can say that once you start eating regular foods, you will soon learn what you can and cant do. Hope this helps.

Michael, Your "symptoms" sound like you are doing it the right way. Stopping BEFORE you experience nausea or pain. If you find you are hungry all the time, then there would be a worry. But missing out on pain and agony? Count your blessings. If you said you were able to eat - a couple of Snicker’s Bars with a Pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey With no problems? That’d be cause for some concern. I’m assuming that you haven’t had a Dumping episode, Because you haven’t been making poor food choices. The gulp of water? That goes right on through, so unless you down a fast 16ozs It shouldn’t be too difficult to pull off. At 4+years post-op, I can pretty much ‘chug’ water. But eating a chicken breast? One is pretty much the limit, then I’m stuffed. A big contrast to my Pre-Op ability to rip through a bucket of Fried Chicken with multiple sides, All washed down with around 2 liters of Diet Coke. As your food options get to be denser, You will come closer to feeling your limits. I spent nearly a year spitting the last bite of a meal into a napkin. As far as the "Dumping?" about 4 out of 10 find they are able to eat sweets with little to no drawbacks. Some just feel sleepy. It is best to assume you are one who will react to sweets like food poisoning. If you "Test the Waters" with sweets, you may have a very unpleasant episode, Or worse yet, find that there is nothing there to prevent you from doing so often. For the time being? Make hay while the sun shines! Lose as much weight as you can while the "Gettin’s Good." Are you a 3 meal a day program? Or 5 to 6 mini-meals program? I feed 5 to 6 times a day and that has made it easy for me To never be hungry, and therefore never feel an urge to over indulge. New Habits, have made it easier for me to refrain from over-eating And making multiple poor food choices. "Protein First, Then Veggies, then with the leftover room, low-glycemic Carbs, Then, whatever...." By the time I get to the " Then, whatever..."  I'm usually so full I couldn't begin to try. Enjoy your smooth start! Best Wishes- Dx

Dx, they have me eatting three meals a day with a protien drink in between. I will admit, the protein drinks don't always happen.

Thanks guys for the excellent feedback. I am much less worried now that I am doing something wrong.

Michael,  thanks for posting this issue.  Exactly the same for me, including the accidental drinking of a 4oz V8 juice in one gulp before realizing that I'm not supposed to be able to do that.  I had the same result as you.  Thanks to all *****sponded because you helped me as much as you helped Michael. Mike